NEW DELHI: Amid concerns over shortages of two critical cancer medicines, National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has approved a 50% hike in ceiling prices of Carboplatin and Cisplatin injections, citing escalating raw material costs and supply concerns.
The regulator has also revised prices of anti-tetanus immunoglobulin and three key childhood vaccines to ensure their continued availability. The decision, for which a gazette notification has been issued, was taken at NPPA’s 147th meeting on Thursday, where the authority invoked its extraordinary powers under Para 19 of the Drug Price Control Order (DPCO), 2013, to revise prices of formulations considered critical for public health.
NPPA said concerns over shortages of Carboplatin and Cisplatin had been raised on multiple platforms and manufacturers had reported sharp increases and volatility in prices of active pharmaceutical ingredients. The authority said it had also held discussions with manufacturers to address supply concerns and ensure continued availability of the drugs.
Carboplatin and Cisplatin are among the most widely used chemotherapy medicines and are used in first-line treatment for several cancers.
The regulator said while affordability remained important, access to life-saving medicines could not be jeopardised by making their production commercially unviable.
Accordingly, the ceiling price of Carboplatin 10 mg/ml injection has been increased from Rs 60.49 per ml to Rs 90.74 per ml, while the ceiling price of Cisplatin 1 mg/ml injection has been revised from Rs 7.26 per ml to Rs 10.89 per ml. The revised prices will be reviewed after six months, or earlier if required.
The authority also approved a one-time 50% increase in ceiling prices of anti-tetanus immunoglobulin 250 IU and 500 IU injections after manufacturers flagged viability concerns.
In addition, NPPA revised ceiling prices of BCG, measles and measles-rubella vaccines, citing their public health importance and the limited number of manufacturers.
Of the 82 applications seeking upward price revisions under Para 19 of DPCO, only four formulations were approved, while 78 were deferred for additional information. The regulator said the move aimed to prevent shortages and ensure supplies of life-saving medicines and vaccines.
